Panoramic radiology

  • V. E. Rushton &
  • J. Rout
UK: Quintessence price £28.00, pp 145 ISBN 1850970807 | ISBN: 1-850-97080-7

This 148 page A5 format book, which forms part of the Quintessentials for General Dental Practitioners Series (volume 20 of 50), sets out to educate practitioners in the technique of Dental Panoramic Radiography (DPR), along with the interpretation of images and the justifications for taking them. The book is aimed at existing and future practitioners alike and claims that it is written in such a way as to be useful to all members of the dental team. The book is priced at £28 which would seem a reasonable price for such a text.

The book begins with an explanation of the history of panoramic radiography which provides an engaging start and quickly develops to cover the techniques that should be used when taking DPRs. Most of the pages in these chapters contain diagrams which aid the understanding of the subject matter.

Chapters on radiation dose, use of DPR in general practice and quality assurance help to provide guidance as to when this technique is justified, as well as how to get the best images. The book also serves to suggest certain situations when alternative radiographic techniques are called for. Quality assurance is always of great importance and the chapter on this topic helps to shed light on a number of common problems that can affect the quality of panoramic radiographs.

The chapters on anatomy and radiographic interpretation of disease make for interesting reading and while the book does not claim to be an exhaustive text it does cover a number of the more common conditions that may be found on radiographic examination. The chapters contain a large number of example radiographs which are fully explained and illustrate the conditions clearly.

Any practitioner who wishes to undertake panoramic radiography in their practice has a clinical obligation to be aware of how to produce the highest quality diagnostic radiograph possible and to be able in turn to diagnose based on this. This book is a good reminder for qualified practitioners and a useful revision tool for undergraduates. On the whole this book is interesting and well written; it achieves what it sets out to do and provides a good overview of the subject. Those wanting an exhaustive text on the subject will find this book short of information; however for most practitioners it provides a readable, helpful overview and would prove a useful addition to the practice library.